Bill’s New York City
M-Sa Lunch 11am-3pm; Dinner 5:30pm-10pm
During Prohibition, Bill’s Gay Nineties was one of Manhattan’s most notorious speakeasies. Today, the laws have changed, but the old-fashioned atmosphere remains the same. Though the main dining room is underground, the front of the restaurant is open to the street, and we walked right into a dark room with low ceilings and a long bar on one side. The walls were covered with old photos and mementos, and ancient silver dollars were embedded in the wooden floor.
When we went exploring up several flights of creaky stairs in this 1890s townhouse, we discovered a stunning private room that can be rented out for special events. The decor was reminiscent of a gentleman’s club, with a long central table, plush chairs, an ornate chandelier and even a fireplace.
The cocktails at Bill’s are inspired by popular drinks during the Prohibition era, but the food is not exactly speakeasy fare, which was generally poor and took a backseat to the drinks. Bill’s offers classic, upscale American cuisine – steak, burgers, fish, oysters, and pasta. “Drunkards may not inherit the kingdom of God,” as a sign in the bar proclaims, but they’ll certainly find solace here, and plenty to eat and drink.
In 2016, the restaurant came under new management and changed its name to Bill’s New York City.
